Leer for annealing glassware



Aug. 22, 1933. LUFK 1,923,941

LEER FOR ANNEALING GLASSWARE Filed Aug. 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. LUFKIN LEER' FOR ANNEALING GLASSWARE Aug. 22, 1933.

Filed Aug. 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug- 22, 1933 STATES Lana Fon' ANnEAm G GLASS-WARE l Garland Lufkin, "Toledo; Ohio, ass ignor to Owen's-Illinois Glass Company, a. Corporation of Ohio I Application August 26, 1930. Serial No. 477,868 14 Claims. (CL 49-47) The present invention relates, to, improvements in leers for annealing glassware, such ,as bottles and jars: More particularlyithe invention is concerned with that type of leer embodying an elongated tunnel or annealing chamber through which the glassware is moved during a tempering process. I g

In leers of the above character the tunnel .is in eiiect divided into zones of difierent temperatures, the zone at the receiving end being quite hot for the purpose of reheating the :articles of glassware and removing. strains and stresses therefrom; The successive zones are progressively cooler so that the articles are gradually brought downpto atmospheric temperature without again setting up to any appreciable degree,,strains such as existed prior to placing the articles in the leer.

An object of the present invention is the provision of novel means for cooling'a wall or walls of the leer in the cooling zone. To this end the invention involves a novel arrangement whereby cool water or thelike', may-be applied in regulable quantities to variable. areas of the wall or walls. a

It is also an object to so arrange" cooling means of the above character that uniform temperature conditions transversely of the cooling zone may be obtained and readily maintained. Other objects will be in part apparent andin part pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawings v i Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the adaptation of my invention to a conven tional form of leer. I

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially along the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating another form of the invention. V

Fig. 4 isa side elevation with parts insection taken substantiallly along the line IV--IV of Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing another form of the invention.

The leer with which my invention is shown wheeled framework 6 so that it may be moved relative to a vglassware forming machine (not shown). An endless conveyor 5* has its ware bearing reach extending through the lower area of the tunnel for supporting glassware and carrye ing it throughthe tunnel. .The tunnel includes metallic top and side walls 7 andBiespctively. At the front or'receiving end comparativelyheavy insulation9 encloses said walls and the bottom of the leer tunnel to prevent excessive dissicomprises an elongated tunnel 5 supported on a I pation ofjheat. The thickness of the insulating material is decreased toward the delivery end of the leer'to permit progressively increased dissipation of the heat through the side walls and top from the receiving end of the leer to "the delivery" end thereof. The top and side walls 7 and-'8 respectively, in the-cooling zone C are uninsulated increasing its thermal conductivity. Thus, the natural/dissipation of heat in these areas takes'place at a muchhigher rate than in the remaining zones.

My' invention provides for acceleration of the dissipation of "the heat in the cooling fzoneC when necessary'and involves more or less generally the application of 'aliquid cooling'medium 7 suchas water, to the topwall 7-. or roof of the leer tunnel. the f'ap'pliedmedium being removed therefrom through the process of evaporation. InFigs. '1 and 2, the structure permitting applicatior of cooling w'aterin regulable quantities to variable areas of the roof, comprises a longitudina. series of -'upwardly opening troughs-10 which are arranged side by side and extend transversely of the leer tunnel. Each trough includes vertical side and end walls 11 and 12 respectively; and a'b'ottom 7' which is formed by the metal roof of the leer. Preferably the uninsulated portion of the roof in the cooling zone C is' inclined from the longitudinalcenter line of the leer-to the side edges thereof so'that water or other cooling liquid which is supplied to the end areas of the troughs tends to flow to the central portions of thelatter. Thus'the water or other cooling medium, while most effective/as a cooling agent, first contacts with-the hottest portions of th'e roof and then moves toward the cooler central areas. It is understood that in a construction such as shown in Fig. 2 the hot gases in the tunnel tend to pocket in the'outer upper corner areas creating an unbalanced temperature condition acrossthe leer in which the marginal portions are hotter than the remaining portion. In order to retard the flow of cooling liquid to the central-areas of the trough sO-that uniform temperature in all areas of the cooling zone C-may be obtained, a series of upstanding ribs 13- or baffles are formed in the bottoms of the troughs, said ribs extending the full width of the troughs to insure retention of certain qdantities of water in the uppermost 3 portions of trough for the'fpurpcse just stated. r

Water or othercooling liquid is suppliedto these troughs by meansincluding a main supply pipe 14 extending lengthwise of the cooling zone the C over the center of the leer. A pair of branch pipes 15 for each trough is connected to the main supply pipe 14, said branch pipes extending downwardly into a trough and connected to a pair of spraying heads 16, each of which may comprise a pipe section extending transversely of the trough and provided with series of apertures through which the cooling liquid is ejected under pressure and applied directly to the end portions of the trough, preferably the bottoms thereof. Valves 17 individual to the troughs and branch pipes regulate and control the amount of water supplied to the troughs and accordingly determine the eifectiveness of the cooling means as a whole. Obviously a great variety of relative settings of the valves is possible so that different quantities of water may be supplied to the troughs to thereby establish the desired temperature gradient in the cooling zone 0".

In another form of the invention (Figs. 3 and 4) the location of the spraying heads and inclination of the bottoms of the troughs are reversed as compared to the arrangement disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2. Also, in this other form, the water or other cooling liquid is removed from the troughs at the desired rate through dischargepipes instead of by the process of evaporation as in the preceding form. The construction involved in the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 comprises a series of transverse troughs 18, the bottoms 19 of which are inclined from the opposite end walls 20 thereof to their centers directly over the longitudinal center line of the leer. Thus the central areas of the tunnel are the hottest and it is there fore desirable to first apply the cooling medium to these areas. A vertical partition 21 or wall extends transversely of each trough 18 at its center so that the trough is divided into two compartments 18. A spraying head 22 is arranged on each side ofthe wall 21 directly over the hottest areas and connected through a branch pipe 23 to a supply pipe 24 extending lengthwise of the leer. Valves 25 individual to the branch pipes 23 regulate the volume of water or other cooling liquid supplied through the spraying heads to the compartments of the troughs. As the cooling medium moves toward the ends of the troughs it is gradually heated by contact with the roof and as a result has less cooling effect on theside areas than on the central portions. Thus a substantially balanced temperature condition is obtained. Discharge pipes 26 are threaded into outlet openings 27 in the end walls 20 of the troughs for the removing of water or the like from the compartments of said troughs. These discharge pipes 26 may be provided with valves (not shown) for regulating the rate of discharge of water from the troughs so that a predetermined level may be maintained in the latter. Thus the effectiveness of the cooling means may be readily controlled.

By properly adjusting the valves 25 in the branch pipes 23 as well'as the valves (not shown) in the discharge pipes 26, practically any desired temperature gradientin the cooling zone C may be obtained and maintained. Rapid cooling of the leer tunnel in the zone C may be obtained by causing a comparatively rapid flow of water over the bottoms of the troughs. When such conditions are desired the valves in the supply and discharge pipes are opened permitting a constant and rapid change of the water contained in the troughs, so that the water is not given an opportunity to heat up to a degree corresponding to that of the temperature in the tunnel. Articles of glassware annealed in a leer embodying the above features may be brought to atmospheric temperature considerably in advance of reaching the sorting table (not shown) with the result that they may be easily handled by the operators.

In Fig. 5 is shown a pad 28 of absorbent material, such as felt, covering the bottom of the trough for the purpose of holding the liquid cooling medium and distributing it over the entire area of the trough bottom (or metallic roof). A screen 29 or the like, on a frame 30 maybe used to secure this pad in position in the trough.

Modifications may be resorted to within the 90' spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel having an uninsulated metallic roof, vertical walls cooperating with the roof in form,- ing a longitudinal series of troughs extending transversely of the tunnel, and means for supplying a liquid cooling medium to the troughs, said roof being angularly disposed to cause movement of the cooling medium lengthwise of the troughs.

2. A leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel having an uninsulated metallic roof, vertical walls cooperating with the roof in forming a longitudinal series of troughs extending transversely of the tunnel, means for supplying a liquid cooling medium to the troughs, said roof being angularly disposed to cause movement of the cooling medium lengthwise of the troughs, and means for retarding movement of the cooling medium lengthwise in the troughs.

3. A leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel having an uninsulated metallic roof, means providing a longitudinal series of upwardly opening troughs extending transversely of the roof, the bottoms of said'troughs each including areas angularly positioned relative to one another, and means for supplying a liquid cool-, ing medium to the troughs.

4. A leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel having an uninsulated metallic roof,

transversely within the troughs and supplying a liquid cooling medium to the latter, and means for regulably controlling the discharge of the cooling medium from the troughs.

6. A leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel having an uninsulated metallic roof, means providing a longitudinal series of upwardly opening troughs extending transversely of the roof, the bottoms of said troughs each including areas angularly positioned relative to one another, means for supplying a liquid cooling medium to the troughs in regulable quantities, and regulable meansdor removing the cooling medium from said trod hs.

7. A leer for annealing g assware comprising a tunnel having an uninsulated metallic roof,

said roof declined outwardly in opposite directions from the longitudinal center line of the tunnel, Walls rising from the roof and forming with the latter a series of upwardly opening troughs, and means for supplying a liquid cooling medium in regulable quantities to the troughs.

8. A leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel having an uninsulated metallic roof, said roof declined outwardly in opposite directions from the longitudinal center line of the tunnel, walls rising from the roof and forming with the latter a series of upwardly opening troughs, means for supplying a liquid cooling medium in regulable quantities to the troughs, and discharge pipes individual to the troughs for conducting the cooling medium from the latter. I

9. A leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel having an uninsulated metallic roof, said roof declined outwardly in opposite directions from the longitudinal center line of the tunnel, walls rising from the roof and forming with the latter a series of upwardly opening troughs, and means for spraying aliquid cooling medium intosaid troughs.

10. A leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel having an uninsulated metallic roof, said roof declined outwardly in opposite directions from the longitudinal center line of the tunnel, walls rising from the roof and forming with the latter a series of upwardly opening troughs, and means individual to the troughs for spraying a liquid cooling medium into the latter in regulable quantities to control the temperature in the tunnel.

11. A leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel having an uninsulated metallic roof, said roof declined outwardly in opposite directions from the longitudinal center line of the tunnel, walls rising from the roof and forming with the latter a series of upwardly opening troughs, and means for applying a liquid cooling medium directly to the central portions of the troughs.

12. A leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel having an uninsulated metallic roof, said roof declined outwardly in opposite directions from the longitudinal center line of the tunnel, walls rising from the roof and forming ,with the latter a series of upwardly opening atroughs, and means including spraying heads arranged over the uppermost areas of the troughs to apply a liquid cooling medium to said areas.

13. In a leer for annealing glassware, a tunnel including an uninsulated metallic roof, the upper surfaces of the two halves of the roof on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line thereof being oppcitely inclined in directions transverse to said center line, and means for flowing a liquid cooling medium onto the upper margins of said inclined surfaces.

14. ,In aleer for annealing glassware, a tunnel including a roof, the upper surfaces of the two halves of the roof on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line thereof being oppositely inclined in directions transverse to said center line, and means for flowing a liquid cooling medium onto the upper margins of said inclined surfaces.

GARLAND LU'FKIN. 

